Portable concrete mixer and drive means therefor



y 11950 G. A. WILLIAMS 2,507,077

PORTABLE CONCRETE MIXER AND DRIVE MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR. 6750965 ,4. W/ZZ 04/140,

G. A. WILLIAMS 2,507,077

PORTABLE CONCRETE MIXER AND DRIVE MEANS THEREFOR May 9, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 FIG. 7.

INVENTOR. GEO/F62 .4-W/u/4/ws,

ATTOP/VE Y8.

Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED femur OFFICE POB-TABIJE CON CRETE MIXER AND DRIVE S THEREFOR George AJWill iams, S a nArit onio, Tex.

Application November 14', 1-947; S erial No; Z85;969 ,5 Claims. (014259- 177) n el-an im roved concrete mixin a para u I especially 7 suited for small 1 concrete jpbs, whereby instead 'of. employing a large mixing machine and a large number of wheeibarrows to transport the material to and from the mixing 7 machine asis now common practice, individual portable mixing .mach-ines are employed to transport the :material, said machines being driven from a weentralized power source to perform their-mixing pperations, providing the-effect of {several 00. vcrete mixers all powered by onev engine orpower source and greatly lessening the time required for mixing.

A further V'obi ctof the ventionzis to provide an improved concretemixing apparatus wherein the output per worker is greatly V-increased by eliminating the need for conveyin the unmixed material in wheelbarrows to a; mixer and then-- re: loading the mixedsconcrete vin thelwheelbflrrows in order to convey itvto the. location whereitis to be deposited, and wherein the unit cost ,per

yard of concrete is reduced b the greatly increased mixing capacity .providedby employing multiple portable mixing units according-to this invention.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from-thesfollowing description and claims, and from the ,accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure .1 is a side elevational view, ofva portable concrete mixer shown ,in engagementwithacentralized power source, all ,inaccordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational 'view'partly in cross-section of the concrete mixing apparatus shown inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top-pla n detail view showing the clutch and power transmission means employed on the portable,cqncrete nixing carrier ofFigure 1.

F e .4 is p lan view Q 53 modified centralized power source iforithe 1;- 1e miigeroof F ure 1, the drive wheelsrofthreerpflrtable-miiir ers .being shown in rsimultaneous ,en alfim n with the drive disc of thepowervsoilrce.

Figure 5 is an elevationalyiew partly in crosssection, of the structuiie ofEigure 4. I

Figure 6 is a fragmen arysideelevaticnalview, partly in cross-section, iilustrating s'til "nether form o'f centralized power neansrorith portable m x aewr m w th them-eer e 1:2 Eigurefl is: anenaielevationaliew of; hestrimture of Figure 6.

z-zReferring -:t o the; drawin s, 4 i .cl si natesrsentotally: arportable mixing ;.carrier-,for g ,concrete -gsaid carrier icomprisingxa, mixing drum 1L2 ,pivotally secured Lati 3:150! rotation :a-round -its long udinal .axie'to'the cross armzi 410i: a .U +shapfid yokemem :loer 1!;5. Theside arms 1.6,.i6 of yokezxmemher A5 are pivotally. carriedpn respective aligned. transverse shaft elements zis'li ancl.tl 1. ;-Indicated,at L8 is a frame having parallel depending leg portions @119, is C anda.rearwardlyextendingu eshaped portion'zzii. JIThe shaft elements it! and 51.12 are respectively ijournaled :in .th respective Junction zportionsiofgthe sideiarms of member 28 with the respectiveidepending legrelementsi 3 and;|.9. ,Se-

cured touthei lowerends-of the legs; 59,13 is Ia vmentsligfl". Securedto-the crcss arm ofthe U- shaped frame-elementE-Q is a vertical p ost element -25-in-thebottoinend of which is swivelled a caster -2 6. Caster 26 has journaled therein the rear ground-engaging wheel- 2 7.

"Secureditothe frame element 20 and extending--rearwardly'therefrom is a -U -sh'aped handle 'bar='2-3 whichie braced at its midpertion to -post member-f2 S 'py'fa sa na. i Secured-to the forward end of yloke arm :15 a hand lever 36,;proi i i i 'mear "t i t n h u r nd ieii eni n' tree 1 for eh rs n m teria1 from the open front end, ;shown.at 3l of said drum.

The interior of -';d1 pin 12. is provided with conenti nalasiia ne an s not shown, orkmixin and ea in th ce popen V aterials ofl h concrete p nsi t vrot tion of vthe idrulm around its in ipivotg s.

raeena poem fishaitrelementi.U is squared, a 1s11own at15 ;.and ar flylsii ab e thereon i a shouldered clutch sieeve elementaif. sleeveiei'ement 3 3.15 .fqilmfidiw itit v nnu rgroorejlsiiin of-ea on-- ,1 ied by the .,e 1 Sci r fifiiisvvpivoted to iiie which Lenga gednthe; de. n ,ventionai .,.shiiter yoke ,'.5 a hand lever 3. Han l ve adjacent I side armoifr'ame el en 2.8 a iii-510 retat" n in horizontal pianawnerehythe clutch sle v t e i 3 a Journaled in a bracket 38 secured to frame element l9 and axially aligned with shaft element I1 is a shaft 39 carrying a shouldered clutch member 40 adapted to be interlocked with clutch sleeve element 33 when said sleeve element is shifted axially as above described. Shaft 39 also carries a sprocket wheel 4| which is coupled by a sprocket chain 42 to a sprocket wheel 43 secured to wheel 22. When clutch elements 40 and 33 are interlocked, rotation of wheel 22 provides driving torque at pinion gear 24 which rotates the drum 12 by the meshing engagement of pinion gear 24 with the ring gear 23.

In operation, the materials are loaded into the drum I2 at the locations where they are stored and the mixer is then pushed to a centralized power source adapted to provide torque at the ground-engaging wheel 22. Lever is then actuated to interlock the clutch elements and 33, causing the drum I2 to be rotated. After a period of rotation sufiicient to thoroughly mix the concrete, the clutch elements 55 and 53 are disengaged and the mixer is pushed to the location where the concrete is to be dumped. Discharge of the concrete is accomplished by pivoting the upper end of drum l2 downwardly on its trunnion bearings by means of handle 30 whereby the material may flow out of the open end 3| of the drum. The mixer may then be returned to the source of material to repeat the above described operation.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, 44 indicates one form of centralized power source which may be employed. Said power source comprises a ramp structure 45 upon which the mixer may be pushed, said ramp portion comprising inclined opposing side elements 41, 47 over which the main wheels 22, 22 may ride and a rear inclined middle element 46 over which the rear caster wheel 2? may ride. Journaled in suitable brackets between the opposing side elements 41, 4! are transverse shafts 48 and 49 carrying the friction rollers 50 and 5!. Shaft 48 is connected to a suitable prime mover. Torque is transmitted to the ground-engaging wheel 22 by means of a friction roller 50 carried by shaft 68. The idler rollers 5| support the wheels during the application of torque to wheel 22. The ramp structure 45 may be of substantial length and may be provided with a plurality of identical stations each adapted to receive a mixer thereon, whereby the shaft 48 transmits torque to the ground-engaging main wheels 22 of a plurality of mixers at the same time.

Figures 4 and 5 disclose another form of centralized power means for the mixers. Designated at 52 is a fiat base on which is journaled a flat disc member 53 by means of radial roller bearings such as shown at 54. Base 52 is provided with a vertical central bearing shaft 55 and rotative thereon is a sleeve member 56 centrally secured to disc member 53. At its top end the sleeve member 56 carries a bevel gear 51. Journaled in bearing brackets 58 and 59 secured to base 52 is a shaft 50 carrying a pinion gear 6| which is meshed with bevel gear 51. Shaft 60 is connected to a suitable prime mover, such as a gasoline engine, or the like.

Secured to the support 52 and extending over disc member 53 are suitably spaced upstanding stop brackets 62. Secured to the frame of each mixer forwardly adjacent a wheel 22 thereof is a stop bracket 63. In operation a mixer is pushed to the centralized power means and its wheel 22 is rolled onto disc member 53 so that the front stop member 63 carried by the mixer forwardly of said wheel is placed in abutment with a stop member 62. The clutch lever of the mixer may then be operated to transmit torque to the rotary drum l2 in the same manner as previously described.

In the specific arrangement illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, provision is made for simultaneously operating three mixers. Obviously, by making the rotary disc member 53 larger, more mixers may be operated simultaneously on the disc member from the same centralized power source.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate still another form of centralized power means for the mixers. Designated at 64 is a base member to which are secured parallel elongated side support members 65,

65. Journaled transversely in the end portions of the side supports 65, 65 are rollers 66 carrying an endless belt 61. Journaled in the side supports at uniformly spaced longitudinal intervals are transverse rollers 68 underlying the upper element of the endless belt 61. The shaft of one of the end rollers 66 is connected to a suitable prime mover.

Secured to the side supports 65, 65 at suitable longitudinally spaced positions thereon are elevated transverse abutment members 69 adapted to be engaged by a front stop member 63 of a mixer when its power transmitting wheel 22 is placed on the belt 67, as shown in Figure 6. Movement of the belt therefore causes torque to be applied to the Wheel 22, and by operating the clutch lever of the mixer, said torque may be transmitted to the rotary drum l2 thereof. By making the belt 61 and its supporting structure of suitable length, a plurality of mixers may be simultaneously driven thereby from the same power source.

While certain specific embodiments of a portable concrete mixer apparatus have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A power source for driving one or more portable wheeled concrete mixers of the type having a rotary mixing drum coupled to a ground-engaging wheel of the mixer, comprising a flat support, a flat disc member rotatively mounted in a horizontal position on said support and adapted to support the ground engaging Wheel of each of said mixers, a bevel gear carried by said disc member at its center, a power shaft extending substantially radially of the disc member, a pinion gear carried by said shaft and meshing with said bevel gear, and a plurality of stop members carried by said support and projecting upwardly and adjacent said disc member, each of said stop members being spaced angularly around said disc member and adapted to be abutted by a stop member carried by each mixer forwardly of its ground engaging wheel.

2. A power source for driving a portable concrete mixer of the wheeled type having a rotary drum coupled to a ground-engaging wheel of the mixer, comprising an elongated frame, a pair of rollers journaled transversely at the respective end portions of the frame, an endless belt engaged over said rollers and adapted to support the ground engaging wheel of said mixer, means for connecting one of the rollers to a power shaft, and a stop member secured to said frame and extending transversely .across the frame in elevated position with respect to said endless belt and adapted to be abutted by a stop member carried by said mixer forwardly of its ground engaging wheel.

3. A concrete mixer comprising a frame comprising a horizontal U-shaped element disposed with the legs thereof directly forwardly, vertical elements secured to depend from the forward ends of said legs, ground engaging wheels journalled on the lower ends of said vertical elements,

a post depending from a rear portion of said U- shaped element, a caster wheel vertically journalled 0n the lower end of said post, mixer trundling handle means on a rear part of said U -sha'ped element, a mixing drum supported between the legs of said U-shaped element.

4. A concrete mixer comprising a frame comprising a horizontal U-shaped element disposed with the legs thereof directed forwardly, vertical elements secured to depend from the forward ends of said legs, ground engaging wheels journalled on the lower ends of said vertical elements, a post depending from a rear portion of said U- shaped element, a caster wheel vertically journalled on the lower end of said post, mixer trundling handle means on a rear part of said U-shaped element, a mixing drum supported between the legs of said U-shaped element, a second U-shaped element positioned between said legs with the legs thereof directed forwardly, the legs of the second U-shaped element being journalled on a transverse axis to the forward ends of the legs of the first mentioned U-shaped element, means on an intermediate part of said second U-shaped element mounting said mixing drum on said second U-shaped element for rotation on the axis of the drum, and means operatively connected between one of said ground engaging wheels and said drum for rotating said drum on its axis as said one wheel is rotated.

5. A concrete handling device comprising a platform having a plane area and another area depressed with respect to said plane area, a pair of horizontal rollers spaced apart at opposite sides of said depressed area, power means for driving at least one of said rollers, a concrete mixer having a rotary drum and a pair of ground engaging wheels at least one of which is operatively connected to said drum, said concrete mixer having another ground engaging wheel, said concrete mixer being positioned on said platform with said other wheel rollably resting upon said plane area and with at least one of the first mentioned wheels positioned between said rollers, said rollers engaging circumferentially spaced points on said one wheel whereby said concrete mixer is prevented from rolling freely upon said platform while said drum is being operated from one of said rollers but said concrete mixer can be rolled off said platform by the exertion of sufficient force thereon to disengage the one wheel from between said pair of rollers.

GEORGE A. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,369,870 Wynn Mar. 1, 1921 1,924,833 Brown Aug. 29, 1933 2,041,479 OBrient May 19, 1936 2,176,874 St. John Oct. 24, 1939 2,397,461 Bennett Apr. 2, 1946 

